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Middlesex County Landfill odor to be addressed at East Brunswick meeting

In response to complaints about the odor emanating from the Middlesex County (Edgeboro) Landfill, the township is hosting a meeting later this month with the Middlesex County Utilities Authority (MCUA) to discuss the issue.

EAST BRUNSWICK - In response to complaints about the odor emanating from the Middlesex County (Edgeboro) Landfill, the township is hosting a meeting later this month with the Middlesex County Utilities Authority (MCUA) to discuss the issue.

The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Jan. 16 in the township's municipal courtroom, 1 Jean Walling Civic Center Drive. MCUA Executive Director Joseph Cryan will discuss the landfill, ongoing upgrades to the facility and the impact to residents. Questions may be asked at the end of the presentation. The event is open to township residents, as well as those in other municipalities.

"They are legitimate complaints," Mayor Brad Cohen said. "They deserve to have answers and the MCUA needs to provide those types of answers to public officials, so we can make that available to our residents."

East Brunswick is hosting a meeting later this month with Middlesex County Utility Authority to discuss the odors emanating from Middlesex County (Edgeboro) Landfill.(Photo: ~File)

"The landfill has a system in place to collect landfill gas, which is a by-product of the breakdown of garbage that occurs over time," according to a statement Wednesday from the MCUA, which operates the landfill. "The MCUA is currently making significant capital improvements to the system, adding new collection piping in areas where more recent waste placement has occurred, and replacing and upgrading existing pipes. These upgrades will lead to an improved ability to continue to collect gas and should reduce the potential for future odors."

According to the MCUA, the major part of the construction work was completed in December and the complaints are down significantly this month.

In a statement last month, the MCUA said there have been concerns from residents in various areas due to odors emanating from the landfill. The capital improvements at the landfill, which opened in 1992, were anticipated to reduce the potential for future odors, the statement said.

But the complaints continue.

Cohen said on Tuesday he had received about 10 complaints since Thanksgiving with at least two or three received in the last few days.

"It's a landfill," Cohen said. "There are good days and bad days, which has always been a problem for people who live close to the landfill, but it has gotten significantly worse in the last month or so. Two or three complaints in the last few days in a town of about 50,000 people may not seem like a lot, but in reality when one person complains all of their neighbors are probably smelling the same thing. They are not alone. I can smell it myself."

Cohen said he has been told by the MCUA that the odor poses no heath hazards to residents.

When the MCUA originally anticipated doing the work, its completion date was the end of December, Cohen said.

"It turns out the work is more complicated than they thought," he said. "Since they made the promise it would be fixed by the end of the year and it's still going on people are starting to doubt they are keeping their word. It's a matter of communication. I think people just want to know it's being worked on and there will be a solution."

Cohen said he had a discussion with Cryan on Tuesday and was told that the MCUA anticipates that it will probably take another three weeks to complete the work.

"They recognize the problem," the mayor said. "The township has been in constant contact with the MCUA since the problem began. They are going to be addressing the residents through the town hall."

A resident of the Parlin section of Sayreville has been complaining about the odor.

"It is 3:15 a.m. on the morning of January 6, 2019," Sunnie DeToma wrote in an email on Sunday. "The Sayreville stench has continued into the new year. We had a two day reprieve for New Year's Eve, but the pervasive and acrid odor did not abate on 12/31/2018. It’s been in full 'funky town' force every day since! Last night (Jan. 5) it seeped in around 8:30 p.m and continued throughout the night. As usual, even with a diffuser running non-stop, a solid deodorizer by my bed, and lately a surgical style filter over my mouth and nose, I’m still awaken by the stench of Sayreville. I am sick to my stomach so often now it’s literally ruining my health and overall quality of life. Something simply must be done."

Residents with odor concerns may contact the MCUA 24-hours a day at 732-588-1051.

For additional information about the event contact the Office of the Mayor and Administrator at 732-390-6810.